Steven Illingworth

Steven Illingworth is a Lecturer in History Education at the University of Cumbria since September 2023. His role includes mentoring secondary trainee teachers across disciplines and leading the Subject Studies course for the history PGCE program. Previously, he contributed to history teacher training at four universities. Before academia, he spent 18 years as a secondary school history teacher and worked as a local authority teaching and learning consultant.

Research Interests

• Assessment strategies and learning environments
• Integration of museums and historical sites into education
• Teaching controversial/emotive historical topics
• Sixteenth-century religious conflict and twentieth-century pacifism

Teaching Philosophy Focuses on empowering trainees to address challenging topics while emphasizing the societal impact of history education. Courses incorporate site visits and collaborations with organizations like the National Archives and Holocaust Educational Trust.

Awards & Recognition No specific awards mentioned, though his work has produced school resources on religious conflict and pacifism.

Grants/Labs No explicit mentions of grants or labs, though his PGCE course leverages external partnerships for enrichment.

Personal Insight Began teaching before the World Wide Web, National Curriculum, and GCSEs, yet remains deeply enthusiastic about education's transformative potential.